The tropical permaculture guidebook natural patterns chapter

the tropical
permaculture
guidebook
international edition
a gift from timor-leste
UR
NAT RNSAL
PATT E
Chapter 2 of 18 | Vol 1 of 3
ISBN: 978-0-6481670-0-6
2. NATURAL
PATTERNS
NATURAL PATTERNS 3
Patterns and design 8

Natural patterns in practice 10
Gardens 10
Fishponds 11
Edges 12
Water collection and storage 13
Buildings and outdoor spaces 14
Meeting and training spaces 15
Pg 2 | Ch 2 | Vol 1 Natural patterns The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook – international edition. A gift from Timor-Leste.˜
The world is made up of patterns.
Every aspect of the earth, from the
smallest animal to the largest mountain,
contains patterns. Even the passage of
time, divided into seasons and years, forms
patterns. Many patterns are repeated in
different forms, both living and non-living.
Natural patterns
All that we see around us, including ourselves, comes from a small
number of simple patterns, such as circles, branching patterns, spirals, etc.
Complex shapes and patterns are created from combining, repeating or
layering simple patterns.
Patterns are the response to natural energy flows. The patterns that exist in nature:
• Enable energy to flow

• Provide solid structure
• Are natural responses to their surroundings
• Are what make life self-sustaining and self-perpetuating
Trees and rivers are examples of the same natural pattern
The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook – international edition. A gift from Timor-Leste.˜ Natural patterns Vol 1 | Ch 2 | Pg 3
Remember that all energy flows: we can either assist the energy flow or inhibit it.
Spiral patterns in nature
Patterns serve specific functions in nature, and every part of nature uses
patterns to fulfill functions: e.g. water flow, nutrient cycles, plant growth
and ecosystem connections. They are often interactive: for example, the
branching pattern of a tree combines with the circle of the tree trunk.
A tree cannot live without either of these.
Patterns occur on a large (macro) scale and small to very small (micro)
scale. Macro scale includes:
• Whole ecosystems • Bio-regions−an area bound

• Long-term climate patterns by natural rather than artificial
borders, such as a mountain
• Weather patterns, including
range or the edge of a climatic
rainfall, cloud types, wind,
zone, that has characteristic
rainbows
flora and fauna, and includes
• Time one or more ecosystems
• Seasonal patterns
• Wave and tida l patterns
Water and nutrient flow in trees utilises
natural patterns
Micro patterns are infinite, including many that we cannot even see:
• Spider webs • Animal and fish scales • Birds’ nests

• Leaf veins • Bee hives • Water flows
• Fungus shapes • Shells
Spiral pattern in the garden
A pattern repeated many times creates a shape, like a song.

Often patterns are symmetrical, like wings. Think of a bird with
one wing and you understand why symmetry is important.
Birds use rhythmic patterns in their calls. Humans have copied many
of these in our own songs, as well as creating many other ways of using
patterns, such as music, dance, songs, pictures, cloth, house designs and
much more. In traditional cultures, these patterns have had a particular
connection with natural patterns.
Human settlements, travel and communication follow a natural pattern

that many animals and birds use, and it is even how our brain works!
This pattern is made up of collection points (hubs) and connections
(routes) between these points.
However, many human patterns, especially modern patterns, are not in

harmony with the patterns of nature. These patterns are often responses
to limited time and making money, and create unnatural shapes that
do not allow good energy flow. The result is that these patterns require
constant maintenance, and have constraints and cause problems. They
also provide ‘low quality’ results that lack beauty and do not feel good or
Top: A birds shape is a symmetry pattern comfortable. The standardised patterns used to create profit rather than
Bottom: The hub and route pattern
quality mean that the same low quality, high maintenance results are
repeated everywhere, and different climates and landscapes are not
taken into account.
Examples of this are box-shape houses, cities designed in squares and

grids, and large-scale single crop agriculture.
Are there any straight or square parts in our bodies?
Are there any straight lines in nature?
Which is stronger: a curved or a straight wall? A curved wall supports itself while a straight wall needs support.
When buildings, especially urban buildings, are designed badly, they need air conditioners. These cost lots
of money to buy and use, waste resources, and cause pollution. When the building design works with nature’s
patterns, and trees and plants are planted outside the house, air conditioners are not needed.
Each country and region has its own patterns, and so do the people. These are unique! If we work with
these patterns to create a house/farm/system/project, we achieve better harmony and results, and there
is less maintenance.
Patterns in nature are beautiful and functional.

Natural patterns in design create beauty and function.
Natural designs and shapes should be used as much as possible to improve beauty and function,
especially around the house. This increases productivity, makes the area much more pleasant to
be in and gives a sense of pride.
A great example of natural patterns at work can be seen on land that is being naturally reforested, with occasional
gentle assistance, at a place called the Solar Village near Darwin, Australia. The land, unlike most of the land
around it, has not been burnt for more than 30 years. During this time, the land has undergone many changes as
the natural vegetation has returned, and the natural patterns and cycles have been allowed to work. Now the land
has incredibly diverse ecosystems and the vegetation changes from place to place, owing to different rock types,
different amounts of water and sun. These are natural ecosystems and microclimates that are responses to the
natural conditions.
Strider in the forest that he assisted to naturally evolve, while observing and documenting its many patterns
Time periods for cycles of natural patterns have also been observed, as the natural forest and ecosystems
return. During this time, many different birds, animals and insects have returned, slowly at first, but numbers
and different types have increased. Weeds have stopped growing as the natural forest has grown up.
The different forest and plant systems are still changing and maturing.
Patterns and design
Permaculture strategies are based on natural science and existing natural patterns.
If you understand the patterns, you can work with them to design and create strong,
resilient, diverse, and energy efficient systems.
Look at the pattern and how it functions, and use these functioning patterns in your permaculture design.
Patterns are our main subject for design, and this is what we observe. This includes designs for farms,
houses, family gardens, communities, agroforestry, animal systems, aquaculture, reforestation, etc.
Working with natural patterns to create designs encourages

you to use your intuition more, not just for the physical design,
but also to anticipate changes over time.
Use your observations to read the land’s patterns:
• Work with the land shape.

• Protect and replenish natural resources.
• Optimise good energy flows−human flows, water, plant growth, etc.
• Design from large (macro) scale to detail (micro).
• Use as many natural patterns as possible. Each one you use
strengthens your garden/farm.
• Reverse degradation. Each natural pattern has a special function
and you can use them to reverse degradation. Degradation patterns
also exist, and if you observe them carefully, you will understand
what you need to do to reverse the degradation: e.g. rain from
a roof can be destructive (if it flows off the roof) or beneficial
(if it is collected and used).
Gravity fed water supply and irrigation
Rainwater from roof being wasted and creating degradation Rainwater from the roof now being harvested and controlled,
preventing further degradation and utilising a valuable resource
Use patterns to create beauty. Good productivity is essential, but so is beauty: it is food for the soul.
Natural patterns can be included in many ways to increase beauty, such as garden bed shapes, ponds,
flowers and sculptures. Add creativity into the design of structures, such as gates, fences and trellising poles.
Natural patterns create spaces that feel much better to be in, as they are welcoming and comfortable.
This can increase productivity because people want to spend more time in the garden!
Natural patterns in practice
Working with natural patterns increases productivity while reducing maintenance.
GARDENS
The width of beds and paths, allowing easy access and good drainage are the most important design
considerations for gardens. Follow this, and include natural patterns.
• On sloped land this means creating terraces, garden beds or swales that follow the land shape, catching
and using water efficiently. These increase production and prevent erosion.
• On flat land you can choose whatever shapes you like. A mandala shape is actually more space efficient
than a rectangle, as long as access is easy. Garden shapes can even follow traditional and cultural patterns.
• Spiral gardens are very efficient uses of space and increase the production area, as well as providing different
microclimates.
• The African keyhole garden uses two circles shapes with a small entrance to create a very efficient and highly
productive planting space.
• Including flowers and planting different vegetables together reduces pest problems. This follows the natural
pattern of diversity.
FISHPONDS
Changing the shape of a fishpond can greatly affect its productivity. As the edge is the most productive area of a
fishpond, increasing the edge increases productivity.
In reality, the shape of the pond should fit into the shape of the land. This means that the land dictates the shape,
so do not change the land to fit the fishpond. If you work with the natural shape, you will achieve productive
results for the least amount of time and labour.
Fish pond shapes. The total amount of water area in each example is 1 hectare (ha)
Square shaped fishponds with vertical edges create areas that the fish do not naturally like − corners.
They think a corner is a trap, so this affects their growth and reduces their size. Vertical edges do not allow
water plants to grow, and corners and vertical edges create spaces that are not used: this is wasted space.
When you create fishponds with more edges and sloped sides with the same amount of water, more trees
and water plants can be planted around the edge. These trees and plants provide:
• Food for the fish from leaves • More fish: as they mostly feed • More insect, birds and animal
and dropping fruit at the edge of ponds, more life around the pond: this
• Shade for the pond to reduce fish are produced in the same improves pollination and natural
evaporation and regulate amount of water. pest control for vegetable
the water temperature • More water plants: these provide growing, and provides more
food for humans and fish, and food for the fish.
• Food for people
mulch for compost and gardens. • Healthier water
• Erosion control
An integrated aquaculture system working with the shape of the land to maximise production with minimal costs
EDGES
Edges occur naturally on the land, but also result from human development. All edges can be used, and all usage
increases production and diversity. Think of the shape of a river − if it has many bends, a lot grows on the edge,
so many animals and birds live there and the water flow is slower. If it is straight, not as much can grow or live
on the river edge, so the water flows faster and, over time, the environment gets more and more damaged.
All paths and roads have edges on both sides that are not often used for production. Paths and roads create water
runoff from rain, and plants and trees on the edges benefit from the extra water. Planting path edges with fruit,
vegetables and flowers will benefit you and the garden. Extra fruit and income, mulch for the soil, and extra birds
and insects are some of the benefits. As the plants are along the path, they are easy to harvest too!
Planting road edges with bamboos and trees helps to stabilise roads and the soil next to them.
They will provide extra products too.
WATER COLLECTION AND STORAGE
Follow the natural land patterns for successful and efficient water use. This improves results for sustainable
agriculture, agroforestry, family gardens, animal systems and aquaculture, and it helps to integrate them.
When you work with the patterns of the land it is easy to:
• Catch and store water where you need it.

• Move water through your system.
• Spread water for agriculture and agroforestry
using swales, trenches, terraces and pits.
• Minimise the risk of landslides and flooding.
• Protect and increase soil.
• Catch, store and use all the leaves, crop waste
and weeds.
• Create efficient paddy systems for rice
and vegetables.
Profile (cross section) of good water catchment
Slow, store and spread water to maximise benefits and prevent damage
BUILDINGS AND OUTDOOR SPACES
Working with natural patterns will minimise energy use and increase comfort:
• Allow direct sunlight onto walls and into the house where and when you want it.
• Reduce strong winds, but allow light winds, cooled further by trees and plants.
• Prevent flooding, but use ponds to moderate temperatures.
• Use appropriate building materials for the climate: e.g. consider what you need
for the hotter coastal regions and cooler mountain regions.
• Use natural ventilation to create air flow and remove hot air from the house.
Natural patterns also create more beautiful houses and outdoor spaces too. Read Houses, water and energy
(Ch 7) for detailed information.
A creative and beautiful structure made from old bicycle wheels - good for growing vines and a great shaded space
MEETING AND TRAINING SPACES
A place for meeting and training is important for every community. Make it a beautiful and inviting space,
so your community uses it and looks after it.
Some considerations:
• Have indoor and outdoor areas with a big shade tree or two.
• Include traditional carvings in the design.
• Incorporate good ventilation and natural light.
• Use a different shape to the usual rectangle or square design.
NATURAL PATTERNS
CHAPTER NOTES
The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook – International Edition. A Gift from Timor Leste.
Created by Artists First Edition (English) 2017.
Permatil (Permaculture Timor-Leste), Gibrael ‘Aziby’ Dias Soares Carocho, Simao ISBN: 978-0-6481670-0-6
xpand Foundation (WithOneSeed) ‘Mong’ Cardosso Periera, Eduardo ‘Edo’
Updated from A Permaculture Guidebook
and Disruptive Media Marques, Chimeng Tael Fraga, Moises ‘Pelle’
from Timor Leste, published by Permatil 2008
Daibela Pereira, Edson Arintes Da Costa
Authors Carminha, Grinaldo ‘Kiki’ Gilmarodep
Lachlan McKenzie and Ego Lemos Fernandes-Zellara, Jose ‘Osme’ Fortunato
Gonzalves, Jose ‘Tony’ de Jesus Amaral, Leo
Contributing writers Marcal, Ozorio ‘Azo’ Jeronimo, Kathryn ‘Cipi’ This guidebook is provided under
Julianne Hartmann, Rob Swain, Morgan, Lachlan ‘Mr Laba Laba’ McKenzie, Creative Commons Attribution-onCommer-
Django van Tholen, Sasha Earle, Fidelis ‘Dee’ York cial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence.
Deirdre Nagle creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Design and production All attributions to be credited to Permatil
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Acknowledgements Supporters Dedication

Acknowledgements Emily Gray John Fellowes Permaculture Rob Swain, 1955 – 2017, lived his life as he
and many thanks for Bruce McKenzie John McKenzie Association Britain worked with us on this guidebook: with endless
the following people Kirsty McKenzie John Champagne Sarah and Albie Pugh generosity, humble wisdom, joyful enthusiasm,
and organisations Cindy Eiritz Permafund Jo Venebles careful dedication, a profound respect for our
from all over the Yohan York Richard Telford Ben Zuddhist earth and much grace and laughter. We will
globe that have Dee da Silva York Greg Knibbs Pippa Buchanan continue your legacy, grow from your
supported this Milena da Silva Richard Morris Chris Day and knowledge and remember you with
project and the IDEP Foundation Russ Grayson Bridgett Bee love. Journey well.
people working on Petra Schneider Fiona Campbell Jen Kimpton
this project. This Marie-Claire Ian Lillington Patrick Jones
help has come in Sweeney Mark and Marine Melissa Walsh
many ways, large Fernando Madeira Harrington Sandy Ashton
and small, but all Barry Hinton Angela and Hannah Constantine
with immense Rosemary Morrow Dave Gray Tanya Heaton
enthusiasm and Lakeside Drive Gisele Henriques Zennie McLoughlin
generosity, often Community Garden George McAllister
self-initiated and The Mulch Pit Costa Georgiadis Contributors to the
all very much Strider Charlie Mgee original edition.
appreciated! Dr Mike Andy Goldring The crowdfunding
Rob Chapman Robyn Francis heroes with amazing
Liam and Anna Robyn Rosenfeldt donations and
Steve Jones Hugo and Patricia encouraging words.

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the tropical

Patterns and design 8

• Enable energy to flow

Trees and rivers are examples of the same natural pattern

Spiral patterns in nature

• Whole ecosystems • Bio-regions−an area bound

• Spider webs • Animal and fish scales • Birds’ nests

A pattern repeated many times creates a shape, like a song.

Human settlements, travel and communication follow a natural pattern

However, many human patterns, especially modern patterns, are not in

Examples of this are box-shape houses, cities designed in squares and

Patterns in nature are beautiful and functional.

Working with natural patterns to create designs encourages

Use your observations to read the land’s patterns:

• Work with the land shape.

Gravity fed water supply and irrigation

• Catch and store water where you need it.

Acknowledgements Supporters Dedication

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